Radiator cap with pressure release



Dec. 29, 1964 M. J. wlLsoN 3,163,315

RADIATOR CAP WITH PRESSURE RELEASE Filed May 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29, 1964 M. J. wlLsoN 3,163,315

RADIATOR CAP WITH PRESSURE RELEASE Filed May 27, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 144 146' 2 3j Z: /l E'. 130132 Vip j, 2 4 13 I, 52 Y 6 K 136' 57 .32124 123 v Y l fl States 3,163,315 RADIATJR CAP Willi PRESSURE RELEASE Michael E. Wilson, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Wayne vctalcr" (Iornpany, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of illinois Filed May 27, 1963, Ser. No., 283,236 S Claims.l (Cl. 22d-*44) by closing the radiator spout with a cap. Such caps ordinarily carry a sealing means which is maintained against a valve seat provided in the spout of the radiator by means of a spring. The spring allows the valve means to release pressure from the radiator when the radiator pressure eX- ceeds the pressure exerted by the spring.

When it is desired :to remove the cap from the radiator and when the coolant is at a high temperature and under pressure, great care must be exercised in removing the cap from the radiator. Unless such care is used, the pressurized hot coolant is likely to be suddenly discharged from the spout of the radiator and to'V seriously burn the person removing the cap. Clearly, it would be highly advanta'gcous to provide means for manually releasing the pressure in an automotive vehicle radiator before the cap is removed from the radiator so as to avoid the danger of injuring the person removing the cap.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an automotive vehicle radiator cap having means for releasing the pressure in the radiator before the cap is removed from the radiator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a valve controller on a radiator cap which serves an additional function as means for applying connecting and disconnecting screw forces or torque to the radiator cap during connection and disconnection of the cap to a radiator spout. A Y

It is another object of this invention to provide a valved radiator cap for pressurized cooling systems wherein the valve is automatically moved to normally open or normally closed condition depending upon the normal actuation of the radiator cap, but which additionally permits of selective actuation of the valve.

It is Van additional object of this invention to provide a radiator cap having pressure release means which is characterized by itssimplicity and economical construction.

Further purposes and objects of this invention appear as the specification proceeds. One VVembodiment ofthepresent .invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE l is a vertical sectional view of my improved radiator cap in position on an automotive vehicle radialtor with the pressurerelease'means'in the closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 ofFIGURE l; v Y.. y

FIGURE 3 is aview similar to FIGURE-1, except that the pressure release means is shown in the open position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional View talren alongV line 4 4 of FIGURE l; and n FIGURE 5 is a bottomplan view arent annular valve seat i8 and an upstanding, generally cylindrical side wall 20 which deiines a chamber 21.' The side Wall 26 has a vent tube 22 which opens into the chamber 21. The side wall'Zl terminates with an upper flange 24 having an annular raised seat 26. The ange 24 includes a depending skirt portion 28 which is provided with opposed recesses 30. Y

The radiator cap, generally 31, is provided with a generally circular rigid support member 32. The support member 32 is provided with a depressed central portion 34 having an aperture 35. YAs best shown in FIGURES 4 and 5, the support member 32 includes a tongue 36 and retaining portion 37 which is positioned opposite to the tongue 36. The support member 32 also includes a pair of opposed, downturned side walls 38, each having inturned opposed tianges 4t?. The iianges 4i), as shown in v tor cap. The cover 42 includes a top 44 having depending sine walls 46. Opposed recessed portions or depressions 48 are provided at the juncture of the top 44 and vside wall 46. The depressions 43 are in general alignment With the inturned flanges 4Q of the support member 32 Aand are Vadapted to buttress against the upper side Vof the support member 32 whereby `a chamber 50 is provided between the cover 42 and the support member 32.

The cover 42 also includes an integral ear 52 which eX- tends outwardly from the side wall 46 so as to provide a gripping means on the cover 42 for applying or removing the cap 31 from the radiator 10. A retaining depression 54 is provided on the outer side wall of the gripping ear 52 and is adapted to fixedly engage the lower surface of the tongue 36 of the support member 32. Positioned opposite to the gripping ear 52 inthe side wall 46 is a transverse slot 56. The lower edge 57 `of the slot 56 securely engages the underside of the retaining portion 37 of the support member 32. Thus',.the support member 32 is iirmly maintained in engagement with the cover 42 by the tongue 36 engaging the depression 54 in the ear 52,by therretaining portion 37 engaging the slot 56, and by the recessed portions 48 in the cover 42 abutting the upper side of the support member 32.

a generally circular diaphragm member 72. The dia-.

phragm member '72 is conveniently constructed of a thin sheet of metal, preferably brass, which has springy properties.` The diaphragm 72 has a central opening 74 which is iixedlycarried by'thelateral groove 60 andlalso has an annular seat 76 whichis adapted to receive one end'of the y coil spring 77. The diaphragm member-72 is alsdproof myiradiator cap. y

The automotive vehicle" radiator 1@ includes a Vspout 77g 12 which is secured to the radiator 10 vat 14, as by fweldf ing., The spout 12 includes Va lower flange 16' having an vided with a seat 784` for contacting the upper side offtlie annular seat 26 of thefspout 12..- When .thecap 31 is positioned on the spout 12, it -is biased upwardly by the Y. l,sprngable diaphragm member so that the iriturnedflanges 49 of the rig-id support member`32 securely engage .the

vrecessed portions 3tl'of Vthe s kirt28`of the spout 12. The

annular terminal portion 73 ofthe diaphragm72', which Vv'contacts-the seat 26 ofthe spout 12' provides metal to metal :on'tatwhich5 valthough not providing ahigh pressure'seal, i

The retainer 58 isV does provide sufficient sealing for substantiallyr preventing the hotcoolant from passing therethrough and for causing the hot liquid to pass through the vent tube 22 provided in the wall of the spout 12.

A slidable member is mounted on theouter Wall62 of the retaining member 58 and has an upperwall 82 with vpressure in the radiator 10, which means will be subsea plurality of vents 86 which allow free communication between the interior of the slidable member 80 and the spout chamber 2.1. The slidable member 80 includes an intermediate flange 84, located between and connected to an upper generally cylindrical side wall 88 and a lower generally cylindrical side wall 90. The intermediate flange 84 is adapted to, receive the lower Vend of the coil spring a central opening 98 and a raised annular portion 100 and provides a rigid backing for the gasket 1112.

Mounted adjacent to the underside of the backupplate 94 is a sealing member or gasket `102which is biased into sealing engagement with the seat'26. The gasket 102, is,

constructed of suitable gasketing material but isto be.`

resistant to high temperatures.4 The gasket 102 has a` central opening 1&4, aligned with lthe opening 98 inthel backup plate-94, and is secured to the backup vplate 94 by an eyelet 1&6 Whichpasses through both openings.V t The-eyelet 106 is staked at one end to the gasketlZ and at the other end to the backup plate 94. Y l

A pressure relief valve 108 is centrally carried by the backup plate 94 and isadapted to release pressure from the radiator 10 and also to provide atmospheric pressure guently described, is precisely the same whether a leaf spring 120 is used or is not used.

A relief valve actuating means 123 is provided for open ing the relief valve 108 when the cap 31 is to be removed from the radiator 10 at a time when the coolant is hot and under pressure. Specifically, the actuating means123 includes a push rod 124 reciprocally positioned within the bore 66 of the retaining member` 48. The lower end of the push rod124 is aligned with the upper side of the valve retainer and, when the rod is pushed downwardly, it opens the valve 108 by pushing the seal-ing member 114 away from sealing engagement with the gasket 102.Y The push rod 124 is also provided with an upper shoulder 126 which slides in the bore 66,. A coil spring 128 carried by the Yretainer 58 normally biases the push rod 124 upwardly.

It is an important feature of the invention that cam means 130 be provided for operating the actuating means 123 and the relief valve `108.v The cam means 130 in- Y cludes an elongated arm 132 which is located in the chamber 50 between the cover Y42 and the support member 32 and which is pivotally secured to the tongue 36 of the support member 32 by a shouldered rivet 134. r4The movable endof the larm 132 includes an extension 136 which passes through the transverse slot 56 provided in the side wall 46 of the cover 42. A handle 138 is mounted on the extension 135 and is shaped similar to the gripping ear 52 provided'on the cover 42. y The cam arm 132 is pivotable on an axis which is generally parallel tothe axis of the'cap 31, the'axis ofthe push rod 124 and the axis of the retaining member 110, or Yis pivotable in a direction transverse to the aX-is of the cap 31. The pivoting movement of the arm 132 is limited by the dimensions to the radiator 10 when a vacuum exists within the radia-` tor. The Vrelief valve 168 includes a relief valve retaining memberll, a sealing member 114 and a leaf spring 120 which biasesthe sealing member .1147into contact` with the lower side of the gasket 102.` f.

Thevalve retainenlli) includesV shoulder portion 112 of the slot 56 inthe cover 42.v

The arm 132 is shaped torivde'tine a cam 140 which is operatively aligned v,with the upper end of the push rod f 124 and, as shown best in FIGURES 1 and 3, the cam which jcontactsi the upper surface oftheleafsprng 120,1'

thereby lifting the sealing member 114 int'otcontact with the gasket 102. f Y l The sealingwmember 114 is sealably fixed to the `valve retainer 110 at the central portion of the lower wall 115. The diverging'side wall 116 extends from the kwall 115 upwardly toward the gasket 102 and `includes lan annular valve seat 118 which is adapted to seal the lower surface of the gasket 102. Y

The leaf spring 126 includeslegs 122, formed byV downturned corners, which contactthe raised annular portion 14H) of the bae'kaup plate 94,whereby the leaf spring 120 lifts the retaining member 11() and the sealing member n114 upwardly, thereby-causingthe valve seat '118 to contact the gasket 12. The leaf spring 120 is 'adapted to-only lift the sealing member 114 to the surface ofthe gasket 102.since theirelief valve 168 also acts as a vacuum relief valve. Thus,.when a slight vacuum is provided-in the radiator 10, since there is only a light upwardiforce raising the sealingmember, atmospheric pressure easily forces the relief valve 10Sv open. Further, when the radiator is under Y pressure, Vpressure Ain the radiator 10, acting upwardlyl against the Ysealing member 114, forcesthe retaining member into firm sealing engagement withthe gasket `1,02; 1

lower dwell portionr144 tothe upperl dwell portion 146.

Vhen' the -cam 140 is in the position of FIGURE 1,7the` upper end of therpush rod 124 -abuts theupper dwell. portion 146 by the biasing action kof the spring 128, thereby allowing the radiator 1t? to be maintained under pressure. Y When it is desired to remove the cap 31 from the radiator member 114 and the -gasket.102, vthrough the annular i channel 121 between the eyelet 106 and valve retainer 11d, throughrthe vents S6 of theslidable member 80 into vthe spout chamber 21, and n'allyvout to 'the atmosphere through the vent tube 22 in the spout '12. The cam means 130 is lockedinlhe open position by the biasingact-ion of the spring 12S causing Ytheupper end of the push rod Howeven, it is to` be appreciated that the leaf lspring l i isgnot required for proper operation ,of `the valve.

T hus, byr'eliminat'ing the leaf spring 120, when there is no pressure in theradiator 10, the Asealing Yrnember 114drps downwardly from Ythe gasket 1952 rather than remaining .spring 120,*is Vused.a,Also, the means use d forV relieving n, incontacttherewith. -When the radiator Vvllis under pres'-V 1 sure,` the sealing member is-forcedupwardly intojiirm. sealing engagementwith lthe gasket, just aswhen aleaf."V

124 to firmly engagethe lower cam'portion'144. Y

In summary,`it s seen lthat theabove-mentioned irn-l Ventron accomplishes all of the aforementioned objects.

When it is desired .toY remove the above-described radiator Vcap, from a radiator, Va personrrnerely Vrotates theoam arm'132by Ithelrandle 13S inthe directionthat'is required to remove thecap 31 from the radiator 16', whereby the pressurein the radiator ltlgis relieved through thevent 22. The camfmeans isadapted to rremainin the open v or closed 'position until returnedmanually to' the` opposite position. To replace the cap onv the radiator, the .operatr'rnerely rotates the cap aridarm 132 in the direction required to replace the cap, 'normally Vin a clockwise direction, thereby causing the cam means 130 to be returned to and locked in the closed position for maintaining pressure in the radiator 10.

While in the foregoing there has been a detailed description of one embodiment of the present invention, it is tobe understood that all equivalents obvious to those having skill in the art are to be included within the scope of the invention, as claimed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cap for an automotive vehicle radiator having a spout which includes a lower seat and a vent positioned above said lower seat, said cap comprising, in combination: a support member, a cover secured to said support member and having a central portion of said cover spaced from said support member to define a chamber therebetween, said cover having an ear projecting from one side for assisting in gripping said cap and also having a transverse slot positioned opposite said ear member, means for securing said support member to said spout, means rfor sealing the lower seat of said spout, a relief valve positioned centrally of said sealing means, means for opening said relief valve, and cam means pivotally carried by said support member, said cam means including an elongated arm extending through said chamber and having a movable end extending through the slot in said cover and also having ya cam portion positioned in said chamber in operating alignment with the upper end of said opening means, whereby the pressure in said nadiator is relieved through said relief valve into the vent in said spout in response to the downward movement of said opening means against said relief valve upon pivoting said arm.

2. A radiator cap for the radiator spout of a pressurized liquid cooling system comprising, in combination: cap

means for attachment to a radiator spout, said cap means including a support member and a cover secured to said support member with portions of said support member and cover spaced hom each other to denne a chamber therebetween, a valve member carried by the cap means and adapted to be normally biased toward a closed position by being exposed to pressure developed in the radiator, movable means carried by the cap means for selectively moving the valve member to an open position against the pressure to which the valve member may be exposed, a portion of said movable means entering said chamber to be engaged therein, cam means in said chamber for engaging and selectively operating said movable means, and a movable lever extending into said chamber and cooperating through said cam means with said mov-v able means at one position of said lever to etfect opening of the valve member and at another position of said lever to permit closing of said valve member.

3. A radiator cap for the radiator spout of a pressurized liquid cooling system comprising, in combination: cap means for attachment to a radiator spout and dening a chamber therein, a valve member carried by the cap means and adapted to be normally biased toward a closed position by being exposed to pressure developed in the radiator, movable means vcarried by the cap for selectively moving the valve member to an open position against the pressure to which the valve member may be exposed, a portion of said movable means entering said chamber to be engaged therein, cam means in said chiamber for engaging and selectively operating said movable means, a movable lever extending into said chamber and cooperating through said cam means with said movable means at one position of said lever to effect opening of the valve member and at another position of said lever to permit closing of said valve member, spaced elements on said cap means for limiting the range of movement of said lever substantially to encompass the said two positions of the lever, there being a iixed gripping ear on said cap means, and a handle on said lever located substantially diametrically of said iixed gripping ear, so that said handle serves both as a means for moving the lever and as a gripping ear for the radiator cap.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein said lever is elongated and is pivoted adjacent one end thereof on said cap means adjacent the fixed gripping ear, the cam means being dened on an intermediate portion of the lever, and the cap means defining an elongated slot through which the other end of the lever extends with the ends of the slot defining the said spaced elements.

5. A radiator cap for the radiator spout of a pressurized liquid cooling -system comprising, in combination: p cap means for attachment toa radiator spout, a valve member carried by the cap means and adapted to be normally biased toward a closed position by being exposed to pressure developed in the radiator, movable means carried by the c-ap for selectively moving the valve member to an open position against the pressure to which the valve member may be exposed, a movable lever cooperating with said movable means at one position of said lever to effect opening of the valve member and at another position of said lever to permit closing of said valve member, spaced elements on ysaid cap means for limiting the range of movement of said-lever substantially to encompass the said two positions of the lever, there being a fixed gripping ear on said cap means, and Ia handle on said lever located substantially diametrically of said fixed gripping ear, so that said handle serves both as a means for moving 'the lever and as a gripping ear for the radiator cap, and the forces applied to said handle during attachment of the cap operating to automatically permit closing of the valve'member while forces applied to said handle during removal of the cap operating to automatically eiect opening of the valve member.

Eshbaugh Ian. 17, 1961 2,990,971 Enell July 4, 1961 3,102,660

Bowden Sept. 3, 1963 

1. A CAP FOR AN AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE RADIATOR HAVING A SPOUT WHICH INCLUDES A LOWER SEAT AND A VENT POSITIONED ABOVE SAID LOWER SEAT, SAID CAP COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: A SUPPORT MEMBER, A COVER SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID COVER SPACED FROM SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO DEFINE A CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, SAID COVER HAVING AN EAR PROJECTING FROM ONE SIDE FOR ASSISTING IN GRIPPING SAID CAP AND ALSO HAVING A TRANSVERSE SLOT POSITIONED OPPOSITE SAID EAR MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID SUPPORT MEMBER TO SAID SPOUT, MEANS FOR SEALING THE LOWER SEAT OF SAID SPOUT, A RELIEF VALVE POSITIONED CENTRALLY OF SAID SEALING MEANS, MEANS FOR OPENING SAID RELIEF VALVE, AND CAM MEANS INCLUDCARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID CAM MEANS INCLUDING AN ELONGATED ARM EXTENDING THROUGH SAID CHAMBER AND HAVING A MOVABLE END EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLOT IN SAID OVER AND ALSO HAVING A CAM PORTION POSITIONED IN SAID CHAMBER IN OPERATING ALIGNMENT WITH THE UPPER END OF SAID OPENING MEANS, WHEREBY THE PRESSURE IN SAID RADIATOR IS RELIEVED THROUGH SAID RELIEF VALVE INTO THE VENT IN SAID SPOUT IN RESPONSE TO THE DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID OPENING MEANS AGAINST SAID RELIEF VALVE UPON PIVOTING SAID ARM. 